A French educator in Prince Edward Island has been cleared of all accusations as the judge determined that the prosecution failed to provide any proof indicating that the teacher’s physical contact with a student in a classroom had a sexual nature.
Roger M’bahia, aged 49, faced charges of sexual assault and sexual interference following an incident at École Pierre-Chaisson, a K-12 French school in western P.E.I. The court proceedings revealed that a student had an object on his lap while seated at his desk. M’bahia reached out to touch the object, and the student claimed that he felt the teacher touched his genitals, causing discomfort.
Upon the conclusion of the Crown’s presentation over two days, M’bahia’s attorney, Alison Ménard, requested the judge to acquit her client due to insufficient evidence put forth by the prosecution. Judge Nicole Angers issued a directed verdict of acquittal on both charges since there was no indication that M’bahia’s touch was sexually motivated.
M’bahia, a foreign teacher in Canada, was recruited to teach at the school by the Commission scolaire de langue française (CSLF) shortly after the school year began. Subsequently, he was placed on administrative leave and faced criminal charges by the RCMP, forcing him to remain in Canada while his family stayed in Cote D’Ivoire.
During the trial, students testified about other behaviors of M’bahia they found peculiar or inappropriate, such as his loud speech and physical contact with students. Communication challenges arose as many students were English speakers in a French learning environment, while M’bahia was a French speaker. Ménard highlighted the students’ negative perceptions of the teacher and the impact on his reputation and ability to work.
Ménard expressed uncertainty about M’bahia’s future plans but suggested he might leave the province. Although not in custody, M’bahia had been wearing an ankle monitor, which was removed after the acquittal. Ménard emphasized the importance of thorough investigations in cases involving allegations of a sexual nature and cautioned against hasty judgments.
The RCMP declined to comment on the court’s decision.